this is way beyond my remote concern of being condescending...

[loadsavedgame]

Day: 24
Characters: Mello [strategicbail] and Matt [loadsavedgame]
Summary: Matt and Mello need to chat. Matt needs some grounding in reality, Mello needs...chocolate. Which Matt has.
DAY/NIGHT & Time: late evening
Status: closed/incomplete

Comments

[strategicbail]

Mello didn't turn his head in Matt's direction when he arrived. There wasn't any point, as he'd be letting him know what had happened soon enough anyway. "I'd like to head to the library, if you'd lead the way." He stuck his hands in the pockets of his coat, pushing away from the wall. "I need to get a feel for the place."

If he could have found a way to get around on his own without looking either ridiculous or like an easy target, he would have done so. Unfortunately, he needed someone there to warn him of danger. The list of people he trusted to do that consisted almost entirely of the man with him now.

"I'm sorry about your friend," he added, almost as an afterthought. He wasn't going to include the part about how useful a tool she would have been.

[loadsavedgame]

The jittery actually increased instead of decreasing when he saw Mello, the blonde didn't look at him, though there was something odd about the way he moved, maybe. Something was off, just a feeling. Matt's eyes narrowed as he observed him, head tilted, and then brushed it off.

It was unnerving, though, to see Mello completely in one piece and seemingly undamaged by therapy. It meant that Mello had either somehow connived his way out of any damage, that that Elle woman was more on the patients' side than he'd given her credit for, or that Mello was hiding any injuries.

Matt assumed Mello would fill him in on his own time, though, and he gave a nod, "Yeah, this way." he said, turning and starting down the hallway towards the rec room and library. His stomach twitched a bit when Mello mentioned his friend, "She was just someone I know here." he said, brows furrowed, "It's not like it matters in the long run, right?"

[strategicbail]

"Hn. Of course not." There was more Mello could say. He could remark about the time Matt had spent by her side while she'd been hung up on the wall, for starters. Perhaps his friend would write that up as being the product of sleep deprivation, but Matt wouldn't do that for just anyone. She was more than simply someone he'd known, if only just.

Unless he was merely that desperate to be laid. He wouldn't put that past him either.

Following Matt by sound had seemed a reasonable enough idea at first. Mello believed he was coordinated enough. Sound echoed in odd ways around these old halls, however, and the fact that his friend was talking wasn't helping anything. He started walking after him, but it hadn't been that long before his arm bumped uncomfortably against a corner in passing and he let out a low curse. No, this wasn't worth the trouble.

"Stop," he ordered, coming to a halt himself in the middle of the hall. "Come back here and give me your shoulder."

[loadsavedgame]

His face set itself into a scowl as Mello said that. He could read into it, and his stomach did another flop, his head down a bit as he moved down the hallway, "It doesn't." he insisted, pursing his lips, "I wasn't going to

[strategicbail]

Mello reached out, hand finding Matt's back first and then sliding over until he had his friend's shoulder in a firm grip. He kept his voice low. "I'm sure you can understand why I didn't mention this." His tone of voice made it unnecessary to add the and I'm sure you won't mention it either.

He had to assume word would get out, of course - especially if this affliction wasn't temporary, as Claire had assumed it might be. It wouldn't do to get hopeful, after all.